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Ex-Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has been named as the country's new Prime Minister after Manuel Valls quit the post to run for the presidency.

Cazeneuve, who has overseen the security forces' reaction to a string of jihadist attacks that have killed more than 230 people in France over the past two years, will take control of the Socialist government until legislative elections in June.

Cazeneuve's appointment comes a day after Manuel Valls announced he was running for president in 2017 after Hollande opened the way by deciding not to run for a second term.

Hollande's office said Valls' resignation had been accepted.

"The President of the Republic has appointed Bernard Cazeneuve as prime minister and asked him to form the new government," the statement said.